(18 Aug 1998) English/Nat
Britain's Prince of Wales has visited Omagh in Northern Ireland to see the destruction caused by Saturday's bomb for himself.
Earlier he met went to Aldergrove Royal Air Force near Belfast where he was briefed about the situation in Omagh.
The Prince says he is appalled by the bombing - sentiments shared by thousands of people who took part in a peace rally Belfast.
Shortly after the first of many funerals for the 28 people murdered in Saturday's terrorist bombing, Prince Charles arrived in Northern Ireland.
The Prince said he came to the Province to show support and sympathy for the victims and emergency services alike.
The atrocity brought back for him sad memories of the assassination of his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten who was blown up by I-R-A terrorists in 1979.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Q. Can we ask you for your thoughts on this visit and what happened ?
"Well obviously I'm as appalled and shattered as so many other people are in this country and elsewhere about the horrifying disaster and tragedy on Saturday. The least I can do is come here and show my sympathy and support in particular for those who've carried the worst of the burden in looking after everybody, but we are so lucky to have such wonderful security forces and emergency services and doctors and the nurses and all these people, it makes such a huge difference when these desperate tragedies happen."
Q. Does your mind go back ten years to when you were here for the Enniskillen bombing ?
"It does indeed and back 20.....19 years when Lord Mountbatten was killed, so I do have some understanding of the awful horrors people have to put up with when their relatives are killed, so I feel very subdued"
SUPERCAPTION: HRH highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
The bomb struck Saturday morning, tearing through streets that were bustling with people doing their weekend shopping and attending a local carnival.
Now, many of those shoppers and revellers find themselves in hospital beds, still struggling to come to grips with the tragedy.
But they were the lucky ones - spared their lives in the cowardly blast that took the lives of 28 others.
In Belfast city centre a subdued gathering of local people listened to the names of the dead being sombrely read out by the city's mayor
Representatives of all main churches attended, and young and old alike bowed their heads in prayer and stood for several minutes' silence.
UPSOUND: (English)
"Ramos, aged 23 from Madrid, Adrian Gallagher, aged 21 from Omagh, Jolene Marlow, aged 17 from Omagh, Esther Gibson, aged 36, from Beragh, Deborah Cartwright aged 20 from Omagh, Julia Hughes, aged 21 from Omagh"
SUPER CAPTION: David Alderdice, Mayor of Belfast
The first of many funerals was held on Tuesday as residents mourned the death of 30- year-old Avril Monaghan, a pregnant mother, and her 18-month-old daughter.
It was the first in a long string of difficult moments for Omagh when it must bury its dead and accept the reality of Saturday's carnage.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We ask that you answer our often repeated prayer and in your goodness give us peace in our time."
SUPER CAPTION: Bishop Harold Miller, Church of Ireland
For those who survived, just as difficult as the physical reminders are the mental scars of an attack that for so many killed a relative, friend or neighbour.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It just hit me hard because I have an 18 month old baby of my own and it's just, we're still numb, I just can't believe it happened."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop
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